Theology Reviewer

Lesson 6

Catholic Church Hierarchy

Pope - The highest honour a member of the clergy can receive is to be elected as the leader of the
Catholic Church. The Pope is elected by cardinals under the age of 8- following the death or resignation
of a Pope. There is no limit to how many years a Pope may hold his office.

The office of the Pope is referred to as the papacy. The Pope rules the Catholic Church in a very similar
way to a king would a country, and he is the head of state for the Vatican City. The Roma Curia (you
might remember them to be Cardinals) help the Pope to complete his duties.

Newly elected popes much choose a regnal name, many choose to honour the names of previous popes.
Each pope chooses his name in reflection of a saint he feels a strong connection to. Catholics believe the
pope is infallible when speaking in ex cathedra, and that God will not allow his followers to be misled by
having him make a wrong statement when the criteria for ex cathedra are met.

Cardinal - Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals. Their biggest duty is
participating in the Papal Conclave, that is, voting for the new Pope. Most have additional duties
including missions within the Roman Curia, governmental body of the Holy See. To be eligible to attend
these votes, however, Cardinals must be below the age of 80.

Arcbishop/Bishop - Bishops are ministers who hold the full sacrament of holy orders. Catholics trace
their origins to the time of the apostles, who were endowed with a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost.

Bishops are required to be 35 years old, ordained at least five years prior and hold a doctorate in
theology. They are believed to truly hold expertise in canon law and sacred scripture. They typically
govern over local regions known as dioceses.

Becoming a bishop is an important moment in most clergy life, as all senior rankings hold the title
bishop. Bishops reach their retirement age at 75 years old. At this time, they are to submit their
resignation to the Pope who will then work with him to determine a suitable replacement.

Bishops are the third, and fullest level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

While Archbishops are particularly important bishops. They oversee large areas of churches called
archdiocese. The title comes from the Greek word meaning “chief”. Bishops report directly to them
when in need of assistance or guidance. The archbishop is best thought of as a manager of bishops for a
certain geographical region.
Priest - After graduating from being a Deacon, individuals become priests. To become a priest, one must
undertake the Rite of Ordination. This ordains them into the priesthood. During the ceremony, they
promise to uphold the duties of priesthood and to obey his superiors.

Once a priest, individuals are able to perform the ceremony of the Eucharist, take confession and
perform Anointing of the Sick. Priests are also able to perform Holy Matrimony.

There are two types of priests within the Catholic Church, religious and diocesan. Diocesan priests lead
individual parishes. They serve the people within their own parish and are not required to take the same
vowels as religious priests. Diocesan priests live on a monthly salary and have their meals and lodging
provided for them by the parish. Additionally, they may wear whatever clothes they choose outside of
service. This type of priest is more common in secular countries without a strong traditional Catholic
population.

Deacon - There are two types of Deacons within the Catholic Church, but we’re going to focus on
transitional deacons. These men are also referred to as seminarians and are students of the Catholic
Church. They are generally in their last phase of training for priesthood. They maintain this role for
twelve months.

Deacons can practice in many similar ways to priests. They can baptise, witness marriages, and perform
funerals.

THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH

The teaching office

Bishops and priests are tasked with preaching the Gospel to all, serving as teachers of faith.

The Church, guided by the Magisterium, adheres to the faith passed down by the apostles.

The Magisterium’s mission is to keep God’s people from straying from the faith and to ensure they can
profess the true faith without error.

The Church’s shepherds are given infallibility in matters of faith and morals, which can be exercised in
several ways.

The Roman Pontiff, as head of the bishops, has infallibility when he definitively proclaims a doctrine
related to faith or morals.

This infallibility is also present in the body of bishops when they exercise the supreme Magisterium,
especially in an Ecumenical Council.

When a doctrine is proposed as divinely revealed, it must be adhered to with obedience of faith.

Divine assistance is given to the successors of the apostles and particularly to the bishop of Rome when
they propose teachings that lead to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals.
These teachings should be adhered to with religious assent.
The sanctifying office

The bishop is seen as the steward of the highest level of priesthood, particularly in relation to the
Eucharist, which he either offers personally or ensures its offering through his co-working priests.

The Eucharist is central to the life of the Church.

The bishop and priests sanctify the Church through their prayer, work, ministry of the word, and
sacraments.

They also sanctify the Church by setting a good example for their flock, not by domineering but by being
examples.

In this way, they and their entrusted flock may attain eternal life.

The governing office

Bishops, as representatives of Christ, govern their assigned Churches through their advice,
encouragement, example, and also by their authority and sacred power. This power should be exercised
in a spirit of service.

The power they exercise in Christ’s name is proper, ordinary, and immediate, but its exercise is
ultimately controlled by the supreme authority of the Church.

The Pope’s authority over the whole Church does not annul but confirms and defends that of the
bishops. Their authority must be exercised in communion with the whole Church under the Pope’s
guidance.

The Good Shepherd should be the model for the bishop’s pastoral office. Despite his own weaknesses,
the bishop should have compassion for those who are ignorant and erring.

The bishop should listen to his subjects whose welfare he promotes as if they were his own children. The
faithful should be closely attached to the bishop as the Church is to Jesus Christ.

Everyone should follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows his Father, respect the deacons as God’s law,
and not do anything concerning the Church without the bishop.

The Lay Faithful

"The term 'laity' is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who
belong to a religious state approved by the Church. That is, the faithful, who by Baptism are
incorporated into Christ and integrated into the People of God, are made sharers in their particular way
in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ, and have their own part to play in the mission of the
whole Christian people in the Church and in the World

The Consecrated Life

Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple. the perfection of
charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life
the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is
the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that
characterizes the life consecrated to God.

One great tree, with many branches

"From the God-given seed of the counsels a wonderful and wide-spreading tree has grown up in the
field of the Lord, branching out into various forms of the religious life lived in solitude or in community.
Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the
progress in holiness of their members and for the good of the entire Body of Christ.

SAINT FRANCIS ASSISI - FORMED THE FRANCISCAN

SAINT DOMINIC - FORMED THE DOMINICANS

SAINT BENEDICT - FORMED THE BENEDICTINES

SAINT AUGUSTINE - FORMED THE AUGUSTINIANS

SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA - FORMED THE JESUITS (WHICH FR.URIOS BELONGS)

Consecrated virgins

From apostolic times Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of
heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church's approval to live in a state of virginity "for the
sake of the Kingdom of heaven."

"Virgins who, committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the
diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of
God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church."

Religious life

Was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity. Lived within institutes canonically erected
by the Church, it is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public
profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of
Christ with the Church.

Brief

- In the Church, there are sacred ministers, also known as clerics, and laity. Both groups have
members who profess the evangelical counsels and are consecrated to God.
- Christ sends his apostles and their successors to proclaim the faith and establish his reign. They
receive power to act in his person.
- St. Peter was made the visible foundation of the Church by the Lord, who entrusted him with
the keys of the Church. The bishop of the Church of Rome, successor to St. Peter, is the head of
the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and Pastor of the universal Church on earth.
- The Pope has supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls by divine
institution.
- The Bishops, successors to the apostles established by the Holy Spirit, are the visible source and
foundation of unity in their own particular Churches.
- With help from priests and deacons, bishops have the duty of teaching the faith authentically,
celebrating divine worship (especially the Eucharist), and guiding their Churches as true pastors.
they also have a responsibility for all Churches, with and under the Pope.
- Lay people lead a life in the midst of worldly affairs. They are called by God to make their
apostolate a leaven in the world through their Christian spirit.
- Lay people share in Christ’s priesthood and exhibit the grace of Baptism and Confirmation in all
aspects of their lives. They fulfill the call to holiness addressed to all baptized.
- Lay people are called to be witnesses to Christ in all circumstances as part of their prophetic
mission.
- Through their kingly mission, lay people have the power to uproot sin within themselves and in
the world through self-denial and holiness of life.
- Life consecrated to God is characterized by public profession of poverty, chastity, and obedience
in a stable state recognized by the Church.
- Through Baptism, a person is destined for God. By surrendering themselves to God above all
else, they consecrate themselves more intimately to God’s service and for the good of the whole
Church.